SCHOOL BUS VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS

New Orleans City Code ch. 162, art. XVI, div. 3

in effect

New Orleans City Code § 162-1820 Maintenance and appearance of school buses.

Sec. 162-1820. - Maintenance and appearance of school buses. Each school bus driver shall be fully responsible for the exterior and interior physical appearance of the vehicle. Interiors of all school buses must be kept free of debris. Dashboards must be maintained free and clear of paraphernalia and other items not necessary for the operation of such vehicle. The penalty for one violation of this section within a one-year period shall be $50.00. The penalty for a second violation within a one-year period shall be a minimum $75.00 fine plus a minimum ten-day suspension from operating any school bus. The penalty for a third or subsequent violation within a one-year period shall be a minimum $100.00 fine plus a minimum 90-day suspension from operating any school bus. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1821 School bus vehicle requirements.

Sec. 162-1821. - School bus vehicle requirements. No vehicle shall be approved to operate as a school bus under this chapter unless the vehicle is manufactured specifically to transport students and meets the specifications outlined in this chapter. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1822 School bus age requirements.

Sec. 162-1822. - School bus age requirements. (a) Any used school bus purchased for use in the city by or for a school system shall meet current state legal requirements for motor vehicles and shall meet state specifications for school buses that were in effect on the date the vehicle was manufactured. No vehicle with rated capacity of more than ten passengers shall be classified as a school bus and thereby used to transport students to and from school and school-related activities unless said vehicle originally was manufactured and certified as a school bus and maintained the certification as a school bus all in accordance with federal and state requirements throughout the life of the vehicle. (b) All replacement school buses used on daily routes, at the time they are acquired by the owner, shall be no more than ten model years old for all owners/operators and school districts. The number of years shall be determined from the date of the model year. (c) Any school bus used as an activity or backup bus, at the time it is acquired by the owner and placed in service, shall be no more than 15 model years old. The number of years shall be determined from the date of the model year. (d) Any school bus used as an activity or backup bus that is older than 15 model years shall not be used more than 60 consecutive school days in a school year. (e) School buses shall not exceed the age of 25 model years. (f) For purposes of this section, the vehicle's age shall be determined based on the vehicle's model year, such that a vehicle with a model year of 2000 shall have a vehicle age of one year as of January 1, 2001. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1823 Inspection required.

Sec. 162-1823. - Inspection required. (a) Every school bus for which a CPNC has been issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be submitted to the for-hire vehicle inspection station by the CPNC holder, or their authorized designee, for mechanical inspection semi-annually. (b) One of the two required inspections must be conducted in the months of June, July, or August prior to the beginning of the school year. (c) Other inspections may be required pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1824 Nonscheduled inspections.

Sec. 162-1824. - Nonscheduled inspections. All school buses shall at all times be subject to inspection by personnel of the ground transportation bureau and be maintained in a condition of mechanical fitness with respect to each element of safety as required by law. The department of public works shall have the power and authority to require inspections from time to time, other than those herein prescribed, when same through reason and sound judgment are deemed necessary. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 2, 3-11-21)

New Orleans City Code § 162-1825 Criteria and regulation of inspection of school buses.

Sec. 162-1825. - Criteria and regulation of inspection of school buses. (1) General inspection requirements: (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the director of the department of public works, or his designee, shall have the authority to inspect school buses where they are customarily housed or at inspection locations deemed appropriate by the director. (b) Every school bus shall be painted National School Bus Glossy Yellow except that the hood shall be painted the same color or lusterless black and its roof may be painted white. Bumpers shall be painted glossy black, except that for increased night visibility they may be covered with a retroreflective material. (c) Investigators shall issue a "do not operate" for vehicles with improper emergency safety equipment, non-functioning stop arms or signals, no brake lights, broken door handles, balding tires, or for safety hazards. (d) Each school bus shall be maintained in a clean condition. There shall be no tears or rust holes in the vehicle body and no loose pieces such as fenders, bumpers or trim hanging from the vehicle body. There shall be no unrepaired body damage or any condition that would create a safety problem or interfere with the operation of the vehicle. Failure to maintain a vehicle in such a condition may result in a "do not operate." (e) The time frame that deficient vehicles may operate with minor deficiencies, such as no hubcaps and deficiencies with signage, is set at three days or the next inspection date, whichever is sooner. (2) School buses shall be inspected in accordance with the following criteria: (a) Proof of insurance; (b) CPNC certificate; (c) Vehicle registration; (d) License plate; (e) Proof of insurance; (f) A current and valid motor vehicle inspection certificate (brake tag). (3) Exterior check list: (a) Brakes; (b) Lighting systems; (c) Stop arms; (d) Crossing control arm; (e) Audible backing alarm; (f) Mirrors; (g) Service door; (h) Emergency exit door; (i) Bumpers; (j) Tires; (k) Mud flaps; (l) Windshield, windows, glass; (m) Exhaust system; (n) Battery; (o) Paint. (4) Interior checklist: (a) Stepwell, aisle and floor covering; (b) Emergency equipment (first aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning devices); (c) Defrosters; (d) Sun shield; (e) Instrument panel; (f) Seat belts, as required by manufacturer specifications; (g) Seats and guard rails. (5) Information to be displayed: (a) The words "School Bus" must be on the front and rear of the vehicle in plain, black letters at least eight inches in height. (b) CPNC identification number on the sides between the rear wheel and bumper, rear and front; (c) CPNC holder name displayed on the sides at the bottom center of the bus, (d) Bus company name displayed at the beltline; (e) The location of the battery identified by the word "battery" or "batteries" on the battery compartment door in two-inch lettering; (f) "Handicap" symbol, identifying the bus as equipped for or transporting student with disabilities; however, the symbol shall not be placed on the glass of the rear emergency exit; (g) The stop arms shall be painted red with the word "Stop" in white letters, or the stop arms may be covered by a manufactured decal with the same color combination. (M.C.S., Ord. 27992, § 2, 2-7-19; M.C.S., Ord. No. 28624, § 2, 3-11-21)

Source: City of New Orleans, Code of Ordinances and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/la/new_orleans/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH162VEHI_ARTXVISCBU_DIV3SCBUVEREFetched: 10/28/2026